Last week France recalled its envoys from Washington, Canberra after Australia new security deal with the US, UK
PARIS, Sep 22 (Asia Free Press) – French Presidency on Wednesday said President Emmanuel Macron spoke with his US counterpart Joe Biden on his request to ease ongoing diplomatic tension between two permanent UN Security Council members.
“President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic and President Joe Biden of the United States of America spoke on September 22, at the request of the latter,” said in the statement, issued from Macron’s office.
Diplomatic ties between the US and France tensed following Australia announced its new security deal with the US and UK on September 16, and cancelled its $60 billion previous deal with Paris that angered Macron.
“The two leaders agreed that the situation would have benefitted from open consultations among allies on matters of strategic interest to France and our European partners,” it said and adding France will send back its ambassador to Washington.
However, the presidency said there is no plan so far that Macron will speak with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison or to send back its ambassador to Canberra.
On Sept. 18, Paris recalled its envoys to the US and Australia in an unprecedented show of anger that dwarfed decades of previous rifts.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian termed the US, UK, and Australia move as a “stab in the back” and said the ambassador recalling is justified by the exceptional seriousness of the announcements” made by Australia and the United States.
On Thursday, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison meet his British counterpart Boris Johnson in New York and discussed the latest AUKUS deal.
“Great to catch up with you too, @BorisJohnson, and discuss taking forward our new #AUKUS partnership and our shared interests in a free, open, and resilient Indo-Pacific. The UK and Australia are the best of friends and allies,” he tweeted after the meeting.
According to CNN, the cancellation of the multi-billion submarine deal by Australia with France could make a significant economic impact on the French defense sector while France also stands to lose out strategically in the Indo-Pacific, where the country holds significant interests.
